Convertible table



' May 18, 1943 J. GElSSLER 2,319,499

CONVERTIBLE TABLE Filed April 22, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 GL3. 7 I

Joseph Ciez'ssler INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented May 18, 1943 CONVERTIBLE TABLE Joseph Geissler, Milwaukee, Wis. Application April 22, 1942, Serial No. 439,961

3 Claims.

This invention relates to convertible tables. One object of the present invention is to provide an improved table that is readily convertible to home or automobile use.

Another object is to provide an improved table which, when not in use, may be readily reduced to a flat, compact form convenient for storage.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of a table constructed in accordance with the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a table embodying the present invention arranged for home use.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof and showin in broken lines the various angular positions that may be assumed by the table top when used as a desk'or music rack.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the table shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section illustrating the position of the, table top when used as a book rack.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the table showing it mounted for use in an automobile.

Fig. .6 is a vertical elevation, on a larger scale, of a clamp employed in the table shown. Figx'? i's'a rearelevation, and Fig. 8 a horizorital section of the clamp shown in Fig. 6.

[The tableselected for illustration includes a substantially flat supporting frame whichin this instance comprises a pair of horizontally spaced uprights in the form of bars in rigidly joined by upper and lower horizontally extended rungs H which are braced by appropriate elements I2.

The rungs l l are joined to thebars lo and brace members '12 preferably by welding.

The fram support a foldin table topcomprising two hingedly connected panels i3 and 14. The panels are preferably of wood, the forward and end edges of the forward panel 13 being reinforced by metal stripping I5 fixed thereto by screws I6 or the like, and the rear and end" edges of the rear panel "I4 being simila'rly reinforced by metal stripping H. The stripping at each end of the rear panel M is of suffi'cient width to permit the same to be laterally bent into surface contact with the under face of'the panel, as indicated at i8, and is extended forwardly beneath the panel i3 to provide support for the latter, as indicated at 19. The stripping at each end of the forward panel I3 is also preferably lapped under the latter, as indicated at. 20, to protect the same. The two panels are hingedly jointed by appropriate hinge pins 2|,

projecting through the adjacent ends ofrthe lieinforcing stripping l5 and H.

The adjacent edges of the two panels l3 and M are preferably braced against sagging by appropriate means, such as a pair of metal plates 22 attached to the under sides thereof. The plates shown at 22 are L-shaped, each having one leg 23anchored to the bottom of one. panel adjacent the edge thereof and a second leg 23 projecting beyond the edge and beneath the le 23 of the other plate.

The rear panel I4 is hingedly connected to the uprights H) of the supporting frame by a pair of hingepins 24 anchored to the stripping I1 and projecting into appropriate hollow bosses 25 formed on the uprights adjacent the dipper ends thereof. The table top is additionally ad justably supported by a pair of strut 26 respec-, tively engaged at their upper ends with the pins 2 I hereinabove described and at their lower ends with appropriate clamps 21 slidably mounted :on guide rods 28 carried by the'uprights Ill. In this instance each guide rod 28 is spaced forwardly of one of the uprights it], each being attached at its lower end to a bracket plate 29 welded to the lower end of an uprightrlil, and each having its upper end 30 bent, a indicated and anchored in an upright adjacent the upper end of the latter.

The clamps shown at 21 are of novel form particularly adapted for the purpose of adjustably supporting the struts 23. As indicated particularly in Figs. 6, '7 and 8 each clamp is contained in a box-like housing 3! slidably mounted on a guide rod 28 and having a pin 32 projecting from one side thereof to receive and support a strut 26. Within the housing 3| is a pair of clamp plates 33 perforated to slidably receive the guide rod 28 and spaced apart by a plate 34 fixed to the rear wall 35 of the housing and providing a fulcrum for one edge 36 of each plate. Both clamp plates are normally urged toward each other by springs 31 which coact with the fulcrum plate 34 to cant the clamp plates into gripping engagement with the guide rod. Inthat normal spring pressed position, the clamp plates securely retain the housing 3! in fixed position on the guide bar.

The clamp plates 33 may be released from gripping engagement with the guide rod by separating the plates toward a position of relative parallelism, and for this purpose a double lobed cam 38 is provided between the edges 39 of the clamp plates. In this instance the cam 38is carried by a stub shaft 40 journalled in the front wall of the housing 3! and carrying a suitable external actuator 4|. The arrangement is such that by rotating the actuators ti and cams 38 of both clamp units, the clamp plates 33 may be separated into rod releasing position, so as to permit the housings 3! to be adjusted up or down along the guide rods and thereby adjust the table supporting struts 2&3. It will of course be understood that, when the desired adjustment has been made, the housings 3! may again be secured in the adjusted positions along the guide rods by simply rotating the cams 38 so as to release the clamp plates 33 and permit them to reassume their normal rod gripping positions.

By adjusting the clamp housings 3! along the guide rods 28, the table top may be made to assume the horizontal position shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 5, or into a compact folded posi tion against the front of the supporting frame, as indicated in Fig. 5. When in the horizontal position shown, the forward panel E3 of the table extends forwardly and is supported by the forward extension 19 of the metal stripping ll, and when in the folded position of Fig. 5, the forward panel may be folded upwardly against the panel l4.

The table top may also assume the upwardly inclined position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, in which position it may serve as a music or similar rack, or it may also assume the downwardly inclined position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, in which position it will conveniently serve as a desk.

Or as indicated in Fig. the rear panel Hi may be folded down against the supporting frame with the panel I 3 projecting forwardly therefrom to provide a convenient book or magazine rack. When thus used, the projecting panel i3 may be additionally supported by an appropriate forwardly projecting bracket plate 42 removably attached to the supporting frame. In this instance the bracket plate is fashioned to provide a shoulder 43 engageable behind the rear edge of the projecting panel It and to provide upper and lower notches to receive the upper and lower rungs ll of the supporting frame. A bar id attached to the rear edge of the bracket plate 42 serves to retain the same in position on the rungs II. A strap 45 attached to the side of the bracket plate 42 is equipped with an end hook 66 adapted to releasably engage one of the vertical brace members I2 of the supportingframe to releasably retain the bracket plate in upright position adjacent that brace member. 7

When used in the home, the supporting frame is mounted upon appropriate feet ii releasably secured to the lower ends of the uprights H; In this instance each foot i? is welded or otherwise fixed to the base d8 of a triangular mounting frame having a sloping side adapted to receive one of the uprights l0 and to support the same in a position somewhat inclined rearwardly from the vertical. The mounting frame is fremovably attached to the upright by a projection 48 at the apex of the bracket that engages in an eye 551 provided on the upright and by a winged screw 5| that extends through the sloping side of the frame into the upright.

Provision is also made for mounting the device in an automobile and for that purpose anradditional eye 52 provided on each upright H adjacent'the upper end thereof. The eyes 53 and 52 on each upright it are disposed to receive supporting bracket hooks 5 3 appropriately fixed mount the device against the back of the seat in the manner just described. It Will also be noted that when mounted on the feet 67, the sloping arrangement of the supporting frame relative thereto positions the feet in a stable position substantially centrally below the table top, even though the frame is attached to the table top adjacent the rear edge thereof.

Any appropriate means, such as a clip 54, may be employed to releasably retain the front panel i3 folded against the rear panel It, When in the folded position of Fig. 5. In this instance the clip Ed is mounted adjacent the forward edge of the forward panel i3 at a mid point thereof and is provided with a recess 55 adapted to receive a small projection 55 formed on the rear edge stripping l'! of the rear panel it when the panel I3 is folded thereagainst.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A convertible tabie comprising a substantially fiat upright supporting frame, a table top hingedly attached adjacent one edge to said frame and foldable downwardly against the latter, said table top comprising two sections foldable one upon the other, hinge connections between said sections, means fixed to one of said sections and projecting beneath the other of said sections to support the latter, a pair of supporting struts hingedly connected at their upper ends to said table top adjacent said hinged connections, means including releasable clamps for adjustably connecting the lower ends of said struts to said frame, and means for supporting said frame.

2. A convertible table comprising a substan tially fiat upright supporting frame, a table top hingedly attached adjacent one edge to said frame and foldable downwardly against the latter, said table top comprising two sections foldable one upon the other, hinge connections between said sections, means fixed to one of said sections and projecting beneath the other of said sections to support the latter, a pair of supporting struts hingedly connected at their upper ends to said table top adjacent said hinge connections, a pair of guide rails fixed to said frame, a pair of clamps adjustable along said rails, hinge connections between said clamps and the lower ends of said struts, respectively, and means for supporting said frame.

3. A convertible table comprising a substantially upright supporting frame, a table top hingedly connected adjacent one edge to said frame, said table top comprising two hingedly connected sections, supporting means for one of said sections adjustable to permit said table top to be angularly adjustable relative to said frame, said last named section having means attached to its edges and projecting beneath the other of said sections to support the latter, and means for supporting said frame.

JOSEPH GEISSLER. 

